Healing in North Augusta After Much Tragedy

January 17, 2006Tuesday was the first day back to school at North Augusta High School since Sunday’s death of two of their students. This makes three North Augusta High School students who’ve died in wrecks since September. So today was a day of healing at the school. Tonight at nine there will be a vigil to remember Robby Kasten and Bobby Kotz. Just last week there was another vigil in North Augusta to remember the young brothers. A lot of tragedy is hitting this community, and now the community is in need of a lot of healing.

Dozens of North Augusta High School students spend time in the media center to talk through their pain with school counselors and local ministers.

“Everybody’s kind of working together to make sure these kids are taken care of, just letting them go through the healing process,” said Principal Kyle Smith.

Healing, after losing three students in car crashes this school year. Sophomore Robby Kasten and senior Bobby Kotz on Sunday and sophomore Casey Delmore in September.

“North Augusta High School is a family of 1,500, so these kids are hurting and I know the families are hurting,” Smith said.

Mark Owens talked with students throughout the day. He’s the youth pastor at First Baptist Church of North Augusta.

“There really isn’t words that’s going to help them to understand. They’re going to go through all the range of emotions from anger and frustration to not knowing and doubt,” Owens said.

The three deaths at North Augusta High School are just several of the recent tragedies that have hit this community hard. There was the shooting and murder at the Huddle House in November and the murder/suicide last week. To help the community heal, First Baptist is holding a service Thursday night.

North Augustans will pray together Thursday for support and each other. But this community is also looking to others for support.

“Our community needs the prayers of other communities,” Owens said.

The healing service will be at First Baptist Church in North Augusta on Thursday evening at 5 o’clock.

There will be a candlelight vigil Tuesday night, tonight, at 9 o’clock at Christ Baptist Church off Five Notch Road.

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